[[Image:StNicodemusOfTheHolyMountain.jpg|160px|thumb|right|Icon of St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain]]Our venerable and God-bearing Father '''Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain''' (or Nikodemos the Hagiorite) was a great theologian and teacher of the [[Orthodox Church]], reviver of [[hesychasm]], [[Canon Law|canonist]], [[Hagiography|hagiologist]], and writer of liturgical poetry.

[[Image:StNicodemusOfTheHolyMountain.jpg|160px|thumb|right|Icon of St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain]]Our venerable and God-bearing Father '''Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain''' (or Nikodemos the Hagiorite) was a great theologian and teacher of the [[Orthodox Church]], reviver of [[hesychasm]], [[Canon Law|canonist]], [[Hagiography|hagiologist]], and writer of liturgical poetry.

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St. Nicodemus was born Nicholas Kallivourtzis c. 1749 in [[Metropolis of Paronaxia|Naxos, Greece]]. In 1775 he became a [[monk]] of [[Dionysiou Monastery (Athos)|Dionysiou]] on [[Mount Athos]]. He worked with [[Saint]] Macarius Notaras of Corinth to compile the [[Philokalia]], a defining work on [[monastic]] spirituality, as well as original works such as ''Lives of the Saints''. He was, however, influenced significantly by Roman Catholic spirituality, canon law, and theology. He translated and edited ''The Spiritual Combat'' (1589) by Lorenzo Scupoli, a Catholic priest of Venice, renaming it ''Unseen Warfare'', and the ''Spiritual Exercises'' of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. He made use of Roman canon law in ''The Rudder'', and held to the Anselmian view of the Atonment. There is an extant letter by St Nicodemus to Bishop Paisios of Stagai requesting an indulgence, and promising financial payment for it. Roman influence is also found in his manual on sacramental confession, the ''Exomologetarion''.

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St. Nicodemus was born Nicholas Kallivourtzis c. 1749 in [[Metropolis of Paronaxia|Naxos, Greece]]. In 1775 he became a [[monk]] of [[Dionysiou Monastery (Athos)|Dionysiou]] on [[Mount Athos]]. He worked with [[Saint]] Macarius Notaras of Corinth to compile the [[Philokalia]], a defining work on [[monastic]] spirituality, as well as original works such as ''Lives of the Saints''. He was, however, influenced significantly by Roman Catholic spirituality, canon law, and theology. He translated and edited ''The Spiritual Combat'' (1589) by Lorenzo Scupoli, a Catholic priest of Venice, renaming it ''Unseen Warfare'', and the ''Spiritual Exercises'' of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. He made use of Roman canon law in ''The Rudder'', and held to the Anselmian view of the Atonment. There is an extant letter by St Nicodemus to Bishop Paisios of Stagai requesting an indulgence, and promising financial payment for it. Roman influence is also found in his manual on sacramental confession, the ''Exomologetarion''. The influence of Western pietistic moralism is perhaps seen best in his ''Chrestoethia of Christians'' (1803), in which he condemns musical instruments, dancing, (non-liturgical) singing, the telling of jokes, etc., and tells Christians that such conduct will lead not only to their own punishment, but to the death of their unborn children.

St. Nicodemus reposed in the Lord in 1809 and was [[glorification|glorified]] by the Orthodox Church in 1955. He is a local saint of the [[Metropolis of Paronaxia]] and the [[Mount Athos|Holy Mountain]]. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[July 14]].

St. Nicodemus reposed in the Lord in 1809 and was [[glorification|glorified]] by the Orthodox Church in 1955. He is a local saint of the [[Metropolis of Paronaxia]] and the [[Mount Athos|Holy Mountain]]. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[July 14]].

Revision as of 17:14, June 19, 2008

Icon of St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

Our venerable and God-bearing Father Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (or Nikodemos the Hagiorite) was a great theologian and teacher of the Orthodox Church, reviver of hesychasm, canonist, hagiologist, and writer of liturgical poetry.

St. Nicodemus was born Nicholas Kallivourtzis c. 1749 in Naxos, Greece. In 1775 he became a monk of Dionysiou on Mount Athos. He worked with Saint Macarius Notaras of Corinth to compile the Philokalia, a defining work on monastic spirituality, as well as original works such as Lives of the Saints. He was, however, influenced significantly by Roman Catholic spirituality, canon law, and theology. He translated and edited The Spiritual Combat (1589) by Lorenzo Scupoli, a Catholic priest of Venice, renaming it Unseen Warfare, and the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. He made use of Roman canon law in The Rudder, and held to the Anselmian view of the Atonment. There is an extant letter by St Nicodemus to Bishop Paisios of Stagai requesting an indulgence, and promising financial payment for it. Roman influence is also found in his manual on sacramental confession, the Exomologetarion. The influence of Western pietistic moralism is perhaps seen best in his Chrestoethia of Christians (1803), in which he condemns musical instruments, dancing, (non-liturgical) singing, the telling of jokes, etc., and tells Christians that such conduct will lead not only to their own punishment, but to the death of their unborn children.